REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

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TED NUGENT – Intensities In Ten Cities

After this album I sort of checked out of Ted Nugent, as the craziness and comments were getting too much, plus the music started to go downhill when he changed his style and moved away from the raw rock n’ roll. This was sort of album number eight for Uncle Ted, as technically it’s a live album but full of all new songs that were recorded on various nights on his 1980 tour. It was really hard to capture what Ted did live on record, as his studio albums never quite captured that raw live sound. This album comes close to doing that. This is number three in my fave Ted records.

Put Up Or Shut Up kicks things off and this is classic Ted, an over the top rock n’ roll song. Spontaneous Combustion is the the first song that doesn’t do it for me on the record, it’s just ok. My Love Is Like A Tire Iron is a great tongue-in-cheek kick ass tune, and I love the Motown-style harmony vocals. Jailbait follows and despite the dodgy subject matter, this is the closest this album gets to a single. The second poor song on the album is I Am A Predator. It just sounds as though it was knocked up in soundcheck. Heads Will Roll is a killer Ted tune, very upbeat and loads of guitar – just raw rock n’ roll. The Flying Lip Lock is just a high octane boogie woombie turned up to eleven. Not a bad cover of Wilson Picketts’ Land Of A Thousand Dances just to get the crowd involved. There is even an instrumental called TNT Overture, which seems strange to do when introducing new songs to an audience. Take No Prisoners closes out the album and it’s where we came in with an old school Nugent romp.  

8/10 from The Grooveman.

DREAM THEATER – Train Of Thought

Album number seven sees the band continuing with, and increasing, the heaviness and taking the band in that more metal direction, but still having those trademark hooks and harmonies. It’s hard to believe it’s nearly twenty years since the release of this monster. I clearly remember being at Manchester for the first night. I love this album in all of its magnificence. D-tuned riffage and killer grooves and songs make this one of my favourite DT albums.

What a freaking opening with As I Am. It has a massive massive riff and it doesn’t get any better than that kiddies. Well actually, the opening to This Dying Soul is equally as awesome and huge. Portnoy is really pounding at the kit. If this doesn’t get the goosebumps up on your arms nothing will. Endless Sacrifice starts with this big power ballad that builds into this huge monster tune. The Honour Thy Father intro is just insane, what a killer riff with that odd time groove from Portnoy. Vacant is one of those slow mood pieces that La Brie is so good at with that breathy style he has. The album closes with two massive numbers. Stream Of Consciousness and In The Name Of God, which is such a poignant tune with the state of the world today. My favourite on this album changes but today it’s This Dying Soul. At this point they could do no wrong.

10/10  from The Grooveman.

VIC VERGAT – Down To The Bone

At the time of this album’s release in ’81 I was heavily into all things guitar and would buy anything I thought would have some great playing held within the grooves. When I saw the cover for this I was straight in. It’s quite telling that after this he would not release anything until 1988, and released an album with Marc Storace of Krokus. Sometimes you win and sometimes…..!!!

At the time I thought this album was sort of half and half. Half I liked and half I wasn’t too bothered with, but I’ve mellowed with age I guess and I rather like all of it. There is no doubt he can play the guitar. Check out the title track, which is my favourite, old Vic really lets it fly. Walk is all about the guitar and sounds a bit like a Ned Tangent. Hot Love is a short sharp blast  with a ripping solo. Most of the songs are based around old riffs and grooves from the rock and roll era, but when he veers away from that in I Believe In Love Music it has more of an impact. I believe he is still out there performing, good on ya Vic!

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

SHOOTING STAR – s/t

Shooting Star was the first US band Virgin Records’ signed and when you consider what bands they had signed in the UK and Europe, this was a bit of a head turner. Journey were just becoming huge at the time and I guess all the record companies were scrambling around trying to sign the next Journey.

Now, if you haven’t heard of them before you should now have some idea of where they stand with their brand of aor/ melodic rock. The majority of tunes fall into that category with a fair sprinkling of ballads, but they do rock out. Tracks like opener You Got What I Need, Stranger with that great classic rock riff, and my favourite Bring It On which has a great groove and the middle section is awesome. They refined their sound more, and had some chart success in the US before they disappeared.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

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